In Bosnia, a war was fought between civic nationalism and individual liberty versus ethnic nationalism and collectivism. Bosnia's struggle was, and is, America's struggle.
Dedicated to the struggle of all of Bosnia's peoples--Bosniak, Croat, Serb, and others--to find a common heritage and a common identity.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Croatian President Calls For Reconciliation

I'd like to take this on face value and hope that it's a good sign, but I haven't been following developments in Croatia at all lately, so I lack the context needed to interpret this development. What do you all think?

With respect to Mr. Josipovic, yes - it's a good sign. Whether we like it or hate it, we live with each other and next to each other and good neighbourly relations are can only benefit all of us.

One correction though! Although the media reported that he "apologized", Josipovic actually stated that he did not "apologize" but showed a "regret" that Croatia's participation in war harmed other people.

I think it's an important step, probably the first made by a croatian authority so far.The reactions to Josipovic's speech were quite predictable: nationalist (HDZ in first place is facing a huge crisis after Sanader) know that wawing the flag is the only way for them noto to disappear.It's interesting as Serbia is facing a similar debate after Srebrenica's (shy) resolution.It seems a new relation is arising between Serbia and Croatia: Tadic and Josipovic are young, and they share (so it seems) similar point of wiews.Their competitors are similar as well.Let's see what is gonna happen...

President Josipovic is the best thing that could be happening, to both Croatia and Bosnia, but the problem is Tadic's support for Dodik. Until there is a clear and unambiguous distance made by him from RS leadership in Bosnia, Josipovic would be lonely in his progressive and well-intended aims.

Josipovic went a long way with this but he can only carry the process of reconciliation so far without reciprocation from Tadic. Tadic condones Dodik's offensive provocations. And Tadic's own position is suspect as long as Mladic remains at liberty.